Agricultural News
OSU-Developed Handheld Nitrogen Sensor Now Commercially Available
Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:44:03 CDT
Trimble has introduced the GreenSeeker handheld crop sensor, an easy-to-use measurement device designed to assess the health of a crop. Readings taken with the GreenSeeker handheld can be used to make objective decisions regarding the amount of fertilizer to be applied to a crop, resulting in a more efficient use of inputs.
This is the commercial version of the Pocket NDVI sensor that Oklahoma State University developed in 2010. The first pocket sensors were given to select producers as a way to field test the new technology. With the feedback received from those using the Pocket Sensor, OSU worked closely with Trimble in the development and vetting of the GreenSeeker Handheld unit. After rigorous testing OSU concluded the GreenSeeker handheld and the original GreenSeeker unit produced the same values and could be used interchangeably. The introduction of a low cost, user friendly NDVI sensor will aid in the implementation and adoption of the N-Rich Strip and Sensor Based N recommendations, not only in Oklahoma but across the world.
Operators position the handheld sensor over a plant, pull the trigger, and the GreenSeeker handheld instantly calculates the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which represents the health of the plant. By gathering several readings from plants throughout a field, users can better determine the overall health and needs of a crop. This can result in a more efficient use of fertilizer, which benefits both the farmer's bottom line and the environment.
The GreenSeeker handheld provides farmers and crop consultants with an affordable way to begin utilizing NDVI algorithms to help them better understand the health of a crop. Readings from the GreenSeeker handheld can be used to indicate basic nutrient response, crop condition, yield potential, stress, biomass, leaf area, herbicide efficiency and pest impact. It can be used to monitor changing field conditions (crop and plant) during the growing season as well as the effects of different levels of an input compared to a local standard.
"As part of our continuing goal to provide solutions that help farmers improve efficiency and reduce costs, Trimble has introduced an affordable crop sensor for farming operations of all sizes," said Erik Arvesen, vice president for Trimble's Agriculture Division. "The GreenSeeker handheld removes the guesswork so farmers can more efficiently run their operations, making informed decisions about their crop based on compiled data to ultimately increase profitability through input savings."
The list price for the GreenSeeker handheld starts at $495. Contact a local Trimble dealer by clicking here..
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